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8 of the Best Women’s Hardtail Mountain Bikes for Under £1k

Here's some of our favourite entry level MTB Hardtials on the market

A hardtail mountain bike is usually where we all begin our journey to the trails. The good old hardtail often remains in our bike arsenal for future play time, long after we’ve moved onto full suspension bikes, and some riders never do – particularly those after weight savings such as some cross country racers.

Mountain bikes can be broken down into two categories: hardtail bikes and full suspension bikes. Hardtails are just that, they have front suspension and a ridged rear end. Full suspension bikes have suspension at the front and rear of the bike. If you want to know more about both of these, and then check out our guide: Hardtails Vs. Full Suspension MTB’s here.

A Guide to Buying a MTB Hardtail

Having been a newbie myself one time, I was all too eager to bypass the hardtail and go head first – literally – into buying a full suspension bike. After 18 months, I’ve now gone the other way, and picked up a hardtail for some serious back-to-basics. This is something many other riders are beginning to do too, with hardtail bikes being an intrinsic part of learning the foundations of MTB.

Whether you’re looking to start out in mountain biking, or you want to get back to basics, we’ve rounded up our favourite MTB Hardtails for under £1k.

Marin Wildcat Trail

 

Marin’s Wildcat Trail bike has been in their fleet for years. It’s their staple entry level MTB for women who want to get familiar with the dirt, pedal those pins and fall in love with the sport.

The new model for 2017 has a lightweight aluminium frame, a 27.5″ wheel-set with SR Suntour front forks. The 21 speed drive-train is constructed from Shimano Tourney components. The brake system is cabled operated with forged alloy V-brakes.

The Wildcat Trail is ideal for gravel and fire-road trails. It have a lovely design and shape to get you started off-road, but it’s equally as useful for those commutes and leisurely town rides too!

Colours: Grey / Purple

Sizes: 13″ / 15″ / 17″ / 19″

Available here for £395

Cube Access WLS

Cube Bikes have been working hard to perfect their women’s specific bike range, and in the last couple of years, we’ve begun to see the fruits of their labour.

The new Access WLS hardtail is one of many models from the range. The women’s specific frame design is constructed from a light body aluminium which houses SR Suntour XCT fork with 100mm travel, a Shimano 3×8 speed drive-train and Tektro HD-M290 hdyraulic disc brakes.

Colours: Black/Blue or Mint/White

Sizes: 13.5″ and 16″

Available here for £450

VooDoo Soukri

This eye catching bike from Voodoo is sure to have you seen on the trails. It’s women’s specific geometry gives it a lovely shape, with low stand-over height for mountain/dismounting.

The Voodoo Soukri is a 27 gear machine ready to take you on all mountain adventures. It has 120mm front travel from the Suntour XCR forks, a Shimano Atlus shifters and mech with a Tektro hydraulic braking system.

Sizes: 14″ / 16″ / 18″

Available here for £500

Specialized Jett Comp

The big wheel of the list is the Specialized Jett with it’s women’s specific geometry that allows for incredible 29″ rolling action, with the comfort of a low stand-over height.

Do 29er Mountain Bikes Suit Women?

The aluminium body is home for the SR Suntour XCR forks which boast 100mm of travel, a Shimano hydraulic braking system, and a Shim/SRAM drive-train combo. The Jett offers 18 gears, and when you combine that with the rolling 29er’s, you’ll feel like the Queen of the Mountain as you tackle any obstacle with minimal effort.

Sizes: Small / Medium / Large

Available here for £600

Scott Contessa 710

Scott Bike have one of the largest selections of women’s specific mountain bikes on the market. They cater for all skill levels, whether you’re a complete beginner, or a more advanced shredder.

The Contessa 710 is rather attractive in its subtle feminine design and colour-way. The alloy frame has internally routed cables, with 100mm travel on the Suntour XCR forks. It has a full Shimano grouspet for brakes and drive-train with a wide range of 27 gears to choose from.

Sizes: X.Small / Small / Medium / Large

Available here for £630

Cannondale Tango 1

The Tango 1 from Cannondale just looks great. It’s nearly all black stealth design appeals to those who prefer simplicity in design.

This super light aluminium bike is fitted with RockShox XC forks which boast 100mm travel at the front of the bike. It has a full Shimano drive-train with a blend of both Atlus, Alivio and Deore components. Its braking system is ran on Tektro Auriga hydraulic discs for responsive stopping power.

Sizes: Small / Medium / Large

Available here for £700

Liv Tempt 2

Liv bikes are notoriously brilliant for ironing out those little problems that women can find with men’s bikes. Each year we’ve been impressed with their new models that offer more comfort, performance and style.

This black and green alloy frame is build to last. It’s the ideal bike to build upon over time as your riding progresses. It comes with Suntour Epixon forks with 100mm travel, a Shimano Deore 20 speed drive-train and Shimano M315 hydraulic brakes.

Sizes: X.Small / Small / Medium

Available here for £750

Saracen Mantra Trail

When we headed down to the Saracen 2017 bike launch earlier this year, we were pleasantly surprised by their introduction of women’s specific trail bikes. One of which is this lovely new Mantra.

This hardtail bike has is built from a study alloy composite, and houses Suntour Raidon forks with 120mm of front travel. It has a full Shimano set up with brakes, drive-train and shifters belonging to the Deore family. The 27.5″ wheels come with fast rolling Schwalbe Nobby Nick tyres, and all contact points are fitted with female specific components: saddle, grips and stem.

Sizes: 13″ / 15″ / 17″

Available here for £900

With such a growing number of female mountain bikers hitting the trails, bike selection has never been to wide and varied.

When shopping around for a new bike, always try and book yourself a test ride with your local shop to ensure the bike is right for you.

You may also enjoy:

2017’s Hottest MTB’s between £1k – £2k

Specialized 2017 women’s MTB range

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